Today's games

October 31, 1998|By Christian Ewell and Bill Free

Georgia Tech (5-2, 4-1) at Maryland (2-5, 0-4)

Site: Ravens stadium

Time: Noon

TV/Radio: Chs. 24, 9, 25/WBAL (1090 AM)

Outlook: With two starts and a bye week under his belt, freshman Maryland QB Randall Jones will be given the opportunity to make more plays off the option. Jones is most dangerous on the corners with the ball, but he hasn't had too many opportunities to get outside. Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden said he believes Jones now has the confidence in himself and the "reps in practice" to handle the option more and throw the ball more off play-action. Maryland is last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense (272.3 yards per game), last in passing offense (130.6 ypg) and last in scoring (16 points per game). In contrast, Georgia Tech is first in the league in scoring (36.0), second in rushing offense (159.6 ypg) and fourth in total offense (384.1 ypg). For Maryland, everybody is healthy except for sophomore FS Tony Jackson (Wilde Lake), who is out with a sprained knee. Georgia Tech had several "players nicked up" last week in a 34-7 loss to Florida State, but coach George O'Leary said "all of them have recovered."

Bowie State (5-2, 3-2) at Fayetteville State (4-3, 3-2)

Site: Jeralds Athletic Complex, Fayetteville, N.C.

Time: 1 p.m.

Outlook: The Bulldogs, who clinched their first winning season since 1989, have a chance to match another achievement of that team of nine years ago. A win today would be the fifth in a row, tying the school record. Again, Rod Williams was part of a big play in a 21-19 win over North Carolina Central last weekend. After Shamar Foster caused and recovered an N.C. Central fumble, he pitched it to Williams, who went 47 yards for the touchdown right before halftime. Williams also had his Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association-leading sixth interception of the season, and the Bulldogs moved into third place in the CIAA. Fayetteville lost, 23-0, last week at Johnson C. Smith.

Dickinson (4-3, 2-2) at Johns Hopkins (6-1, 4-0)

Site: Homewood Field

Time: 1 p.m.

Outlook: Dickinson took triple overtime to beat Hopkins in 1997, after JHU's 16-14 win in 1996. In other words, look for another close match between the Centennial Conference rivals,

beginning the Blue Jays' three-game stretch that includes fellow league leaders Franklin & Marshall and Western Maryland. The Red Devils come to Homewood after a 38-0 thrashing of league doormat Swarthmore that ended a two-game losing streak. Dickinson has its traditional running game, with Peter Hawken (84.9 ypg) leading an attack that averages 183.3 rushing yards.The Blue Jays are even more potent on the ground this season, averaging 208.6 yards, led by Adam Gentile (113.4).

Western Maryland (7-0) at Salisbury State (2-5)

Site: Sea Gull Stadium, Salisbury

Time: 1 p.m.

Radio: WICO (1320 AM)

Outlook: Western Maryland looks for its 18th regular-season victory in a row in a break from Centennial Conference play. The Sea Gulls have lost five in a row. Last weekend, Western Maryland's Ron Sermarini threw four touchdown passes in a 28-13 win over Franklin & Marshall. Meanwhile, Salisbury will try to bounce back after a 31-24 loss to Wesley.

St. Mary's, Calif. (0-7) at Towson (3-4)

Site: Minnegan Stadium

Time: 1 p.m.

Radio: WTMD (89.7 FM)

Outlook: It would seem that the Tigers would be in for an easy day against a team looking for its first win of the season. However, the Gaels have played well against two other Patriot League teams this season. St. Mary's lost at Bucknell, 30-14, on Sept. 12, and lost by six points to Lehigh, a team that demolished Towson, 55-7, two weeks ago. Jason Corle, banged up in the losses to Lehigh, Lafayette and Holy Cross, may benefit from the Tigers' bye last week. The game is the first of three straight nonconference games for Towson before ending the season at Bucknell on Nov. 21.

Kentucky Wesleyan (2-5) at Frostburg State (6-1)

Site: Bobcat Stadium, Frostburg

Time: 1 p.m.

Radio: WFRB (560 AM)

Outlook: The Bobcats pounded previously undefeated Ferrum (Va.), 31-13, last week, giving them a shot at the first Atlantic Central Football Conference championship. Wesleyan, which beat Quincy College last week, 45-22, averages about 35 pass attempts. However, QB J.D. Meyers completes fewer than half of those attempts. The defense gives up more than 400 yards per game.

Morgan State (1-6, 1-4) at Florida A&M (6-1, 4-1)

Site: Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.

Time: 7 p.m.

Radio: WEAA (88.9 FM)

Outlook: FAMU is averaging 50 points, including 84 points in a jTC 70-point rout of Norfolk State. In the Bears' last trip to Tallahassee, they lost, 83-12, to their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rivals. Morgan State scored its first win of the season and first homecoming win in 18 years last week, edging Delaware State, 15-13. Jay Hinton ran for 127 yards on 21 carries and Willie McGirt completed 13 of his 17 passes for 200 yards.